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I was almost 54 when I had my surgery. Yes, I have some loose skin. And like @catwoman7, you can’t really see it when I’m dressed ... except for that wee pooch at my waist but I am slouching a little for effect in the pxt on the left below 😉. Like @STLoser I happily carry my loose skin: I worked hard to lose my weight & I continue to work at maintaining. The loose skin reminds me every day to stay my course. When you first lose weight you could look drawn but I found my remaining fat seemed to resettle once in maintenance & I looked better. Increasing my calories & adding some whole/multi grain carbs to my diet helped. You won’t look as you did before. Then your features were likely distorted by the weight you carried. My face was a round blob. People said I looked younger because the fat filled out any wrinkles I had. When you lose weight you’ll see your cheekbones again, your neck will be thinner & look longer. You’ll have fewer chins. My eyelids aren’t as hooded & my face is oval with a strong jawline now. And people still say I look younger than my age. If you need support to understand & battle your addiction, seek a therapist who has experience with bariatric patients. Many do seek help with success. Though you may find, that like @Jaelzion, your desire for sugar/sweet is muted after surgery & you can manage it without the support of therapy. I made a conscious decision to avoid or restrict certain foods in my diet. They were my danger foods - not cravings but foods I enjoyed a lot & often that were calorie heavy. It was my choice to avoid them or restrict the frequency I eat them. Do I miss these foods - not really. Some people can eat their old favourites without issue but they do it in moderation. You’ll work out what works for you that’s sustainable. Understanding what a recommended portion size is a big learning as is the difference between a portion & the size we get served. Most serving sizes are 2 & 3 times what we should be eating to maintain a healthy weight. I eat about the recommended portion size for most foods now or a little less. For example I can almost eat two eggs, about 100g of meat, a cup of vegetables, a small bunch of grapes, etc. Some days will be harder than others. You’ll learn new things about yourself & your body. There’ll be days you’ll question your decision but the surgery is so worth it. If you’re willing & ready to make the changes to take full advantage of it, you’ll be successful & be able to enjoy your life to the fullest. Good luck. PS - You look fabulous @STLoser. Love the lip gloss colour too.

I love your post! You said exactly what I was trying to say but wayy better!! Being on the plus size is extremely hard and there are certain things that skinnier people just cannot relate to. I'm so tired of not having enough clothes because not many places sell my size in the type of style I'm looking for. I've literally narrowed down my search to Target because they are always stocked in plus sizes! I always feel like the ugly duckling when it comes down to my friends because they're all skinny and gorgeous and get tons of attention when we're all out. I'm super nervous that my body will reject the surgery and that I'll fail but I'm also SUPER tired of looking in the mirror and hating what I see! You're right, They're both hard... But I think that I'll choose the hard that will work towards me loving myself a little more every day! Congrats on your surgery, I can't wait to read about your experience and how it's going for you. Good luck!!

So I reached my goal approx. 2 months ago. I went from 216 to 135 in 7 months!! Now I am down to 131 and keep losing even though I increased my protein, carbs, etc. I still eat healthy, but I am able to eat more now. I don't know why I keep losing. I am starting to look really sickly.

I agree catwoman7 looks absolutely incredible. I am 56 and I'd LOVE to look as young as that!

I have beef and pork rarely because I have to crave them to eat them. They seem to sit well most of the time but I have “off” days with foods every once in a while. Chicken has been my biggest issue after my RNY revision but I’m slowly able to eat it now that I’m 9 months out from it.

Thank you! I hope I am as successful as you! No regrets! Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

You look wonderful! I am so happy for you. Thank you for sharing your words of encouragement. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

it should stop on its own. Things do shift around during year 2, so you'll start looking less gaunt - and then in year 3, MANY of us put on 10-20 lbs of bounce back weight (and some put on more), so I wouldn't get too worried yet... I was really worried when I got into the low 130s, but I bounced back 20 lbs in year 3. Now I kinda wish I hadn't - but it happens to the majority of us.

I'm 11 months out of sleeve surgery. I came to build a routine in what I eat, and I absolutely enjoy every meal. Even if it's exactly the same as yesterday. I love it. Here's what I eat in a day (and the day after, and the one after.... 🙂 Breakfast: 2 eggs, 4 oz of diced lean ham (pork or turkey, or a turkey patty), 1 oz leek, 1 oz sweet peppers, all scrambled together. Add 6-8 cherry tomatoes and an espresso with 1 oz of 2% milk. Lunch: 5 oz of lean meat (chicken breast, pork loin, beef sirloin) grilled or pan seared, 2 cups of shredded fresh cabbage, one tablespoon of light mayonnaise Dinner: 5 oz of fish (cod, mahi, salmon, tuna, shrimp) and 1 cup of sliced zucchini or snap peas, all pan seared together, plus one Danon Light&Fit yogurt. That's about 1100 calories a day. Throw in the occasional apple or cup of berries, and it's 1200 calories, all in. And that's ALL I've been eating for the last 10 months. The only variation is the type of meat or fish I have. Or what flavor yogurt I choose. I'm not bored, and I look forward to every meal. It makes it easy to shop for and cook. Do yourself a huge favour and throw away ALL the crisps, cakes and any other greasy or sugary snacks you may have in the house. Then don't buy them again. If you really must snack, bite into an apple, or chew on a carrot. It keeps the mouth busy, without adding much caloric content. Oh, and I drink a gallon of water a day, to stave off constipation. Hang in there, believe in yourself, and maybe talk to a therapist or a friend about it.

"I have a medical condition and my doctor has advised me not to fly". The exact nature of your condition is no one's business.